Raptors clinch playoff spot with win over Hawks

TORONTO — Nick Nurse said he had an idea at the beginning of the season how he wanted the Toronto Raptors to play. But whether they could pull it off remained to be seen.

The Raptors clinched a playoff spot with a 118-108 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, and Nurse praised his team for how far they'd come.

"I think they’ve formed some kind of identity, it’s a little quirky and a little different but it’s a hard-playing, competitive identity and they found a way to grind out enough wins to get ‘em in this situation," the Raptors coach said.

Pascal Siakam had 31 points and 13 rebounds to lead the way. Scottie Barnes added 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Chris Boucher added 18 points, and Gary Trent Jr., finished with 14 for the Raptors (46-33) in their 12th win in 15 games.

Fred VanVleet had 12 points, while Precious Achiuwa chipped in 11.

"It means a lot . . . it's one of those things where you appreciate the journey," said VanVleet, who had a rough 4-for-21 shooting night, but hit a key three-pointer with about a minute to play and the game still in doubt.

Trae Young had 26 points to lead the Hawks (41-38), who saw their five-game winning streak come to an end.

With their victory and the Cleveland Cavaliers' 120-115 loss in Orlando, the Raptors can finish no worse than sixth in the Eastern Conference. Chicago's loss to Milwaukee later Tuesday saw the Raptors move into fifth, a game ahead of the Bulls. With the East so tightly packed, the Raptors might not know their post-season opponent until the final games are played on Sunday.

Avoiding the play-in tournament was key, Nurse said, both for the extra six days off between games, and what the experience of a post-season series would mean to his young team.

"My